Moistening device for duplicating machines



Oct. 17, 1944. R. J. COPELAND ETAL 2,360,648

MOIST EWING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Erwes?" J. B70ore.

Oct. 17, 1944, R. J. COPELAND: ETAL 2,360,648

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l 1 U U I j l 26 O O 0 O Faber? (0pe7a-n3 ZEI- 19 125? J. B700",

Patented Oct. 17, 1944 MOISTI'ENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Robert J. Copelandflroronto, Ontario, and Ernest J. Bloore, Brampton, Ontario, Canada; said Bloore assignor to said Copeland Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,752 In Canada September 13, 1941 4 Claims.

'This invention relates to an improved form of moistening apparatus of the type in which the moistening fluid is supplied from a container to a moistening pad which engages the sheets to be printed and moistens the same as they are directed to the printing cylinder on which the master sheet is mounted, and the principal objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of manual control which will be easily operated to accurately direct the requiredamount of moistening fluid to the moistening pad and to ensure the uniform distribution of the moistening fluid, thereby ensuring a more uniform quality of printing.

A further and important object is to provide an improved form of moistening pad which will ensure uniform pressure moistening contact with the sheets and which will be directly supplied with moistening fluid from the manual control means at a plurality of points in its length.

The principal features of the invention reside in the novel combination with the'fl'uid container of a manually-operable fluid-pumping or displacement mechanism for displacing fluid in measured volumes from the container to the pad or to an intermediary pad feeding means.

A further and important feature resides in the provision of a plurality of fluid outlets leading from the fluid pumping means directly to the moismning pad at a plurality of points in the length thereof to effect a uniform distribution of the fluid.

A still further and important feature resides in the novel reversible construction of the moistening pad having active sheet-engaging zones which are resiliently backed to provide a cushioned contact during the moistening of the sheets and in the provision of a holder closely embracing the moistening pad and having a plurality of.

screened inlet openings for the reception of the distributed charges of themoistening fluid.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragm" of a duplicating machine provided with a moistening fluid supply means in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved fluid container showing same in mounted position above the pad holder.

Figure 3 is an elevational part sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view through the container and manually operable pumping means.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the metal blank from entary sectional elevation.

which the main body portion of the fluid container is formed.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical mid-sectional view through the manually operable pumping means for dispensing the sheet-moistening fluid to the pad. v

Figure '7 is a plan view of the moistening pad holder with the moistening pad in place, the holder being broken away in part to expose the pad.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the screened fluid feed openings,

I Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of the pad removed from the holder and broken away in part.

The present invention directs of improvements over our former United States Patent No. 2,237,548, Apr. 8, 1941, particularly in connection with the moistening of the sheets, whereby a more uniform application and control of the moistening fluid is provided. 7

Referring briefly to the machine construction illustrated in Figure l, with which the present invention is associated, this comprises a cylinder I, which receives the negatively impressioned master sheet, and a pressure roller 2 whichis spring-held to press against the cylinder to hold the moistened sheet tightly against the master sheet as they pass between the pressure roller and cylinder.

The sheet to be moistened is fed through a guiding means 3 to a pivotal throat member 4 which is adapted to press the sheets tobe moi-stened against a co-operatively arranged moistening pad, the member 4 having anoperating finger 5 adapted to be periodically engaged at a predetermined point in the rotation of the cylinder by an operating projection 5 thereon to release the sheet to be gripped between the pressure roller and cylinder as the pressure roller or its operating member rides off the peripheral cams 1.

The above construction forms no part of the present invention, which invention WillnoW be described in its relation thereto. 7

The pad holder comprises a tray-like member 3 inclined downwardly away from the cylinder I in convergent relation to the throat member a! and having an upstanding side flange 9 and end flanges l0 provided with mounting lugs H.

Fitted snugly within this tray member}! is a rectangular moistening pad l2 which is advantageously formed of amain rectangular felt sheet l3 having a narrower central felt strip l4 stitched thereto and having rectangular strips ofsponge V for receiving the clamping screws I 8 and pro-' viding for lateral adjustability of the pad relative to the tray.

A cover and clamping plate fit closely within the flanges of the tray member 8 covering the pad l2, and is adapted to be clamped firmly against the pad by clamping nuts 2|.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced feed openings 22 of upwardly flanged form are provided in the upper clamping plate 20 forming a series of individual pockets and a strip of wire mesh 23 is secured to the underside of the clamping plate 20 and extends across the pocket openings to maintain clamping pressure on the pad in these zones and to minimize any splashing effect when the moistening fluid is ejected into the pocket openings.

The fluid container 24 is preferably formed mainly from a single blank, as represented in Figure 5, which comprises the front wall 25, bottom 26 and top 27, having an integral shield portion 28, the rear wall 29 being preferably formed separate and soldered or brazed in place after the sides, bottom and top wall portions have been bent into place and soldered or otherwise secured, a pair of mounting lugs 30 being rigidly secured in the rounded extremities of the side Wall 25 to project beyond the container for supporting engagement in sockets 3| formed in the machine frame.

A fluid dispensing means, here shown in the form of a manually operable pump, indicated in general at A, Figure 3 and in greater detail in Figure 6, is mounted centrally of the liquid container.

The pump herein shown comprises a main tubular body 32, which may be of rectangular cross section as shown in Figure 4, having a cylindrical bore 33 leading upwardly from a central bottom inlet having a ball check valve 34 seated therein.

A tubular plunger 35 within the bore 33 is urged upwardly by a coil spring 36 and is provided with ports 31 in the wall leading to an annular recess 38, which recess in turn communicates with discharge ports 39. A ball check valve 40 co-operates with an internal seat 4| within the tubular plunger directly below the ports 37. An operating stem 42 extends upwardly through the casing and is provided with an operating button 43, a suitable packing gland 44 being provided.

A plurality of individual fluid-conducting tubes 45 lead from the ports 39 through the bottom of the container at points in alignment with the pocket-openings 22 so that the fluid, discharged by operation of the plunger 35, will pass out through the ports 39 equally to each of the several tubes 45, and will be directed in equal volume to each of the pocket openings so that the pad will be supplied with moistening fluid uniformly at the several points in its length. This ensures a more rapid distribution of the fluid throughout the pad.

The conducting tubes 45 are preferably each of the same length but are bent to pass out through the casing at the proper points and in this way there will be no possibility of syphoning from one tube to the other and the fluid discharged through the ports 39 will in each case have to travel the same distance, thereby further enhancing the uniformity of the feed.

It will be apparent that on the upstroke of the plunger 35 it will draw fluid through the inlet past the ball valve 34 and flood the interior of the bore 33 so that the operator by simply placing a finger on the knob 43 and pressing downwardly, will cause a measured volume of the fluid to be displaced from the lower portion of the bore 33 up through the hollow plunger and out through the ports 31 into the annular space 38, Which will then be in register with the discharge ports 39 so that the measured volume of fluid will be directed equally through each of the different tubes 45.

The plunger carries a piston portion 35' above the annular recess 38 to restrict upward displacement of the fluid and any fluid that leaks past the portion 35 enters an annular groove 35 which registers with ports 32 leading back to the interior of the container. This arrangement also prevents any trapping of liquid or air above the plunger which might interfere with its proper return movement.

It will thus be appreciated that not only will it be possible to easily and accurately determine the amount of fluid directed to the moistening pad but this fluid will moreover be equally distributed and a more uniform moistening and better quality printing will be achieved.

Moreover the several pocket recesses 22 will form miniature reservoirs momentarily holding the fluid projected thereinto until it has been absorbed in the pad structure and the presence of the screen element will also serve to minimize splashing action.

Furthermore the resilient porous rubber backing strips 15 will provide a highly desirable cushioning action so that uniform pressure and moistening conditions will be ensured and the contact area of the pad will be resiliently supported against wrinkling.

The construction defined will greatly facilitate the work of producing duplicate printed copies on duplicating machines, and while we have shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention we may resort to further structural modifications and adaptations without departing from the essential pirit thereof.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a duplicating machine having a moistening pad, a fluid container, a pump having its intake connected with the interior of said container, and a plurality of fluid-conducting tubes all of equal length to facilitate uniform distribution of fluid leading from the discharge of said pump and having their free ends arranged to discharge the pumped fluid to the moistening pad at a plurality of points spaced longitudinally of the pad.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination with, a moistening fluid container and means for feeding fluid from said container to a plurality of points, a reversible moistening pad having a porous area centrally of its width for receiving the moistening fluid throughout its length from said feeding means, rubber reinforced edge portions arranged longitudinally either side of said porous portion adapted to apply uniform pressure and hold the edge portions from wrinkling,

and a porous leather cover enveloping said compump cylinder, and tubes of equal length leading from the cylinder discharge and having their discharge ends projecting from the bottom of the container and discharging at spaced intervals on to said moistening pad.

4. In a duplicating machine, a moistening pad,

a flanged tray comprising a holder for said pad, a cover extending over said pad having a plurality of feed openings each surrounded by an upwardly extending flange forming a pocket to hold a supply of moistening fluid, and means for simultaneously directing predetermined quantities of moistening fluid to the pockets of said feed openings to be retained thereby for slow distribution to the pad.

ROBERT J. COPELAND.

ERNEST J. BLOORE. 

